Bob Trojan

Taking a Medical Break

Bob Trojan — Thu, 23 May 2013 01:44:10 +0000

For my readers, you have noticed a lack of recent blogs. Fact is, I am attending to my wife’s medical situation that is still uncertain.

Not many times in one’s life do you face big decisions, but in this case, for me, I have decided to withdraw from my involvement, including blogging, until I can see a path of recovery for my dear wife of 50+ years.

Thanks for understanding....

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Local EIGERlab Executive Completes Incubator Management Certificate

Bob Trojan — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:01:26 +0000

Mike Cobert, Business Manager of the EIGERlab in Rockford, IL recently completed the National Business Incubation Association’s Incubator Management Certificate Program.
The educational program provides a comprehensive and practical overview of the tasks and responsibilities of managing business incubators, which are programs that accelerate the successful development of start-up and emerging companies by providing entrepreneurs with resources and services. Launched in 2007, the certificate program is designed to enhance managers’ skills and to provide them with opportunities to gain ideas for building stronger relationships with key constituents, providing effective client services, ensuring incubator sustainability and more.
NBIA officials say ...

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Rockstar Manufacturers Tell Your Story

Bob Trojan — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:24:06 +0000

Edge Factor is looking for local rockstar manufacturers.

From the creators of Edge Factor comes the eduFACTOR: LaunchPoint series: a fast paced, high impact educational video series! In these 15 episodes, postgraduates tell their stories of how they became rockstar manufacturers. From attending awesome training centers to launching exciting careers in manufacturing, the stories of these postgraduates will equip students and viewers with insights on educational and career pathways that they can emulate, as they consider how to begin their own career in manufacturing.

Edge Factor has outlined a Screening Process for Edge Factor and Location Partners to work together ...

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EIGERlab Hosts First IT Roundtable

Bob Trojan — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:27:25 +0000

The purpose of the IT Roundtable is to grow the Information Technology industry within the region. EIGERlab‘s IT Roundtable will bring together IT companies from the region that may face similar barriers to growth, provide resources which will overcome those barriers thereby ensuring the growth and success of participants, as well as encouraging the relocation or start-up of other IT companies to this region. Currently we have seven local companies that are interested in participating. For more information phone Jeri Dedrick, 815.316.6356...

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Batter up: 2013 Stateline FastPitch Competition

Bob Trojan — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:08:23 +0000

It’s hard to believe that this year’s event will be the 7th annual Stateline FastPitch Competition! FastPitch will be held on Wednesday, June 19 at NIU-Rockford and is open to the public at 5:30 PM. Over the past six years, we’ve had an average of 48 people compete annually; totaling nearly 300 presenters. With the addition of the two Wisconsin events last year, which we assisted in facilitating, the competitions have attracted over 100 potential entrepreneurs in the Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin Region. If you’ve never attended a FastPitch event, please consider doing so. It’s somewhat like watching the ...

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Make it Loud in the Rockford Area for Rockford Robotics

Bob Trojan — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:59:38 +0000

Rockford Robotics was honored to compete in the US FIRST World Robotics Championship held in St. Louis recently. This report from the team:

In addition to numerous Jr. Lego League, Lego League and First Tech Challenge teams, 400 FRC Robotics teams competed. At the end of Saturday’s 134 matches Rockford Robotics placed 22 overall in our division. Our drivers patiently waited as our robot was an alternate for the elimination rounds. The champion alliance consisted of a team from Texas, and two teams from Canada. While the winning teams were extremely well designed and constructed, we were surprised to see ...

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Rockford Christian a Finalist in National Innovation Contest

Bob Trojan — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:00:07 +0000

Rockford Christian’s FIRST Lego League (FLL) team is a finalist in a national innovation contest and will be traveling to the US patent Office in Washington, DC in June to present their project to contest judges. They are one of three finalists for this award. What kudos for them and Rockford!

Their invention? It is The Magnetic Plug Adapter (MPA) and was developed in response to the Challenge “Senior Solutions”. The seven team members were excited to involve many of their grandparents and senior family members with this project. That was the biggest key to their progress this year. They ...

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Midwest Manufacturing Output Increased in March

Bob Trojan — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:15:13 +0000

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) increased 0.3% in March, to a
seasonally adjusted level of 96.5 (2007 = 100). Revised data show the index was up 1.1% in
February. The Federal Reserve Board’s industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG), however, moved down 0.1% in March. Regional output rose 6.4% in March from a year earlier, and national output increased 2.9%.
*Production in three of the four regional sectors increased in March:

*Regional auto sector production rose 1.2%;

*Regional resource sector output improved 0.4%;

*Regional machinery sector production moved up 0.1%; and

Regional steel sector output declined 1.1%

For ...

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Forbes Names Goodwill to It’s List of 25 Most Inspiring Companies

Bob Trojan — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 13:42:04 +0000

Forbes did this? You mean the Forbes that rated Rockford as a Miserable City? Yep, that’s the one! And it was this past October, before the Miserable Rating.

Guess what, Rockford has a Goodwill organization headquartered right here. Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois and Wisconsin Stateline Area (GINIWSA) operates in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. They oversee 9 stores in 18 counties and employ 300 plus employees.

Most of us would think of Goodwill as a retail store front or a place to donate various goods. But as Sam Schmitz, President would say “the revenue from the sale of their ...

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Rockford Robotics to Face Boeing Competition

Bob Trojan — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:58:35 +0000

The FIRST Robotics competitions that are held around the country get pretty competitive. Most all teams are supported by volunteers from industry and include engineers of all types.

Our Rockford Robotics team is heading to St. Louis this weekend for the World Championship and will be facing a number of teams that are supported by Boeing.

Boeing has 26 teams they’re partnering with from around the world who are coming to St. Louis this week for the robotics championships. That’s a pretty powerful way that Boeing has in not only supporting the robotics program throughout the country, but it becomes ...

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